Focusing on Strengths, Stepping out in Faith

I intended to link up regularly with the God-Sized Dream link up on Tuesdays, but it really hasn't happened much. The writing, the dreaming, the blogging has been a little spotty. But I am trying to connect when I get the chance and I had a moment this week that I just wanted to share.



I heard something very profound this week... (not that I haven't heard it before, but I didn't hear it LIKE THIS)!!
"What should have taken 11 days, took 40 years because of fear, doubt, unbelief, murmuring, grumbling, and complaining" ~Christine Caine

Ya know what some of my strengths are?! ...fear, doubt, murmuring and complaining.

And I began to wonder, maybe God only wanted me to take "11 days" to get to my God-sized Dream, but I've been sitting here in the wilderness full of fear, doubt, unbelief and grumbling and complaining. I sure don't want it to take me forty years to get to my promised land!!!

I don't know where I will go with this renewed knowledge, but I'm hoping that it leads me to the banks of the Jordan River...


One thing I am doing to step out of my fear and enter in to faith is to support The Mercy House.  I've been following Kristin Welch's journey from the beginning. I even donated some of my handmade cards to her original etsy shop when she was just getting started. Since then, I've just watched from the sidelines, admiring the jewelry and other great things they have in the shop, praying when news updates came through my email and facebook feed, and wishing I could do more to help.

Well, I'm stepping out in faith and joining #TeamMercy. I don't know what it will look like, I don't know how I will find the money (maybe you could all go buy some cards from my etsy shop, that would help a little), but I'm excited to see what God can do with little old me and willing heart.

My strengths are the ability to write and to share the stories and to pray. My strengths are to create and hopefully sell some cards to provide support. My strengths are to dream and hope and follow God's promptings. My strengths are to speak life and truth into the lives of the people I meet. My strengths are to share the stories on social media (yeah, I'm good at status updates ;)

Joining Team Mercy is a new direction of my God-sized Dreams, but I feel that it's taking me down the right path.

Community Conversation: Are you wandering in the wilderness in fear and unbelief? What are some of YOUR strengths as you pursue your God-sized Dreams? Would you consider joining me on Team Mercy?

A different kind of art

So my "God-sized Dreams" mostly include making cards and writing and encouraging others with both. The month of January was a bit sparse in both. So I'm linking up with Crystal Stine to share a little bit "Behind the Scenes" of my instagram feed lately (lots of baking)... and linking up with Holley Gerth, because I needed some encouragement for my heart today!

Thankfully, God has also given me another outlet for creativity... and I've been using it a lot this month. Maybe it was because I missed eating Christmas cookies, or maybe it's just because I love to bake!! First there were scones for the kick-off of Downton Abbey. There was birthday cake and cinnamon rolls (three times). Pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips.

Fresh bread (with a machine), and apple pie and banana bread. Banana cupcakes with homemade frosting and pumpkin cookies with glaze... And then there was the rainbow jello in team colors for the Super Bowl party. I just couldn't stop myself...

And that doesn't even count the home made pizza I make almost weekly, the new dinners I tried and the delicious corn fritters we had last night.  There is something about using my kitchen that delights me. Now if only I could learn to bake and eat healthy stuff!

I was getting a little discouraged about my quietness on the blog and my dormant etsy shop, but I was reminded that I do have other dreams (being a better wife and mom, being a real-life friend and encourager, etc) and the time I spent in my kitchen helped me do that when I shared some of the goodies I created.

All this to say, I haven't been writing lately, and all my good intentions for my card shop fell flat this month, but I still made art... in my kitchen!!



So on the long hard days, when you aren't sure you've done anything right (and believe me, I've had a handful of those this month), and when you aren't even sure what your dreams are, or how to pursue them... and you still haven't figured out what you want to be when you grow up, just look around you, look at what brings a smile to your face, look at what fills your instagram profile, look for the gifts and the graces from God. Chances are you might just find something that you've done right, something that fulfills the dreams of your heart. Sometimes you just have to be quiet to see them.

So friend, can I encourage you heart today?

Keep dreaming.

Keep taking snapshots of your daily life.

Keep spending time in God's Word.

Keep asking Him for guidance, direction and encouragement.

And Keep trusting Him to fill the desires of your heart!


holleygerth.com

Community Conversation: What do YOU need to hear on the long hard days?  and What do you like to create in the kitchen (any recipes to share with me)?

You Didn't Miss Your Chance

Can I encourage your heart today? As we start this new year and it's flying by and we are already half way into the first month of the new year, you might wonder if it's too late to get started.

Can I encourage you that if you don't know what your dream is... just do something.

Can I encourage you when you wonder if you missed your chance...




Sometimes I think that maybe I should have chosen a different word for 2014...Perhaps, the opposite of the word Procrastination --- proactive, maybe?

Because when you have an idea in your head and you don't write your words down, you discover a week later that Jeff Goins has already written the post for you. He may be a more experienced writer than I am, but here's my two cents.

I started the year with the reminder that His mercies are new every morning... not just on the first of the year. That still applies this week, because today is Tuesday and I meant to write this post last Wednesday, and in reality I meant to write it the week before so that it would be ready to post last Wednesday.  I want to encourage your heart today because my heart needs to be encouraged. 

So let me encourage you... the sun has not yet set...

You didn't miss your chance on pursuing your dreams
on starting fresh for the new year
on choosing a OneWord365 for 2014

It's not too late
--to start reading your bible
--to open an etsy shop
--to read a new book (or finish one you've neglected)
--to restore a relationship
--to ... you fill in the blank

It's not too late, you didn't miss your chance!!

In your dreaming, in your life, when you don't want to take the next step or just don't know what the next step is... Can I just encourage you to take one more step? Make His Word your lamp and one step is all you need to take.

One Word: Quiet

Quiet, Quiet, Quiet...

Over at God-Sized Dreams today, they are asking the question, "Have you struggled to give words to your dream?"

Why YES, Yes, I have!!

Not that I haven't tried... I called myself a writer once or twice, I focused on creating more last year, and I even gave words to my dreams last year...

But my dreams are all still a jumble in my head and I'm having a hard time sorting them out. I keep reading and reading on dreaming, and writing, and creating, and pursuing Jesus, and being a better wife and mom. The problem is with all those (GREAT) voices speaking at once I can't keep track of what I've read and what I've heard and most of all I can't hear God's voice. And hearing the Voice of Truth is most important.

So Quiet, Quiet, Quiet

In the craziness of the holidays, and travels, and unexpected (expensive) car troubles, and plumbing issues, and mountains of laundry, and then seemingly unending snow/ice days, God has pressed on my heart... Quiet

Be quiet, live quiet, pursue quiet, speak quiet, study quiet, experience quiet...

I wanted it to be all pretty with a neat quote or a Scripture verse, but the truth is, there hasn't been enough quiet for that yet. I don't know what it's going to look like and I know that if "you fail to plan, you plan to fail," so I'm putting it out here for a little bit of accountability. I don't have a set plan or goal, but I have some intentions or guidelines.

* I am returning to analog weekends --not every weekend, but most weekends, no facebook, no blogging, no social media...

* I want to read blogs and "surf the internet" with purpose. So much time wasted jumping from here to there without true community. This one will be hard because I've made so many great blog friends that I haven't interacted well with many of them. I need to make a list and stick to it...

* I want to talk less and listen more; this may result in less blogging (or more if the removal of other distractions allows me to think clear enough for better writing).


And then there is this part of being quiet that includes my kids...  2014 is the year I am going to stop yelling at my kids. This will mean I have to get off my butt a little more. Not all of my yelling is in frustration. Sometimes I'm just lazy and want them to come to me. But I'm also that parent that can scare my kids with my words and I don't want to be remembered for yelling...

Vulnerability alert: This has been a struggle for me for YEARS! It all started when I got mad at God for giving me four kids in 4 1/2 years  and I took it out on my kids. For all the patience and forgiveness and grace I have received from my God, my husband and even my kids, you would think that I could return the favor a little more often. Would you pray for me that I would see progress (not perfection) in this area ... and that my kids would notice too!

I want to be QUIET this year...

surrendered to be a space for God... Let Love, Be Loved, Be Love

Quiet, but never alone

Lay down anger, impatience, selfishness, laziness, fear, my wants and agenda...

To find abundance in the quiet

Jesus is enough

Grace.

God-sized Dreams continued

In 2013, I was blessed to be a part of Holley Gerth's God-sized Dreams Team. What was intended to be a 6-month encouragement, accountability, and resources has turned in to so much more... Lifelong friends, an amazing prayer team, and continued encouragement. While I'm still floundering in my dreams and whether now is the right time or not, I have a few friends that are reaching for the stars and following God's leading and launching some awesome dreams come true.



One dream I'm excited to see launching is a way for all of you to get a glimpse of the community that began just a year ago... and to join this community and dream with us! Today, we are linking up a blog post about our dreams, so be sure to check it out and subscribe to this fantastic resource for dreaming God-sized Dreams!!!


When I look back at my dreams a year ago, I sometimes get a little discouraged. I wonder why I'm still floundering and I often fail to see the little successes and the baby steps that have happened in the last year. But I know that there have been successes and there have been steps in the right direction and for that I am thankful.

I think about how I always have good ideas and I'm great at starting stuff... but the executing and the finishing just doesn't happen. But then I remember that God is still working on me and as long as I am still on this earth-- I am NOT finished. So me and God and my Dream-Team Sisters are just gonna keep working on this together.

Here's what I started with last year.

I believe God has created and called me to serve and support my family through encouraging, serving, cooking, and listening. (Not that these are my strongest skills, but the ones I need to grow for the sake of my family)

I also believe God has created and called me to encourage and support other women through writing my stories, creating handmade cards, and connecting through both cards and stories.


And here is where I feel I am right now...

Being a good wife and mom seems so relative. This is one area where I really struggle to see the little successes. Instead I see every little failure and blow it up into something way bigger than it is--- which in reality shows a little bit of pride. Truth is, overall I am making good meals for my family (and lots of good Christmas cookies, too). I've been improving on my listening and encouraging and celebrating the little successes with them. I'm making an effort to "catch my kids doing good" and praising them. ... and I am listening... maybe still not as well as I could, but improving over the past. And when I have a bad day and I don't do these things well, I focus on truth, these moments do not define me!

In the area of writing, I just wore myself out. Taking some college courses where I had to write challenged me something awful... and awesome. I loved some of the writings I worked on during my classes, but I was too chicken to share them here... or submit them somewhere else.  FEAR keeps creeping in.

And in the area of cardmaking, I launched an etsy shop!! And even had some sales!!! Christmas was a discouraging time for me, so the fear is creeping in again and I wonder if I have what it takes to be successful in the handmade world. But when I focus on truth, I see that I did step out in faith and in all things there is an ebb and flow...

I am so excited to keep dreaming with the friends that God has given me... they rock and are such an encouragement!

#31Days of Dove Promises-TwentyThree

Day 23 of #31Days of Dove Promises: I'm also joining Behind the Scenes, a link up hosted by Crystal Stine... "Behind the Scenes" is a fun link up where we show the photos - but tell the real story behind them. The sneak peek behind the scenes, a look past the edges of the photo to the real life behind it. You're invited to join in - we'll write up our posts & link up on Tuesdays!


So, if you visit here often, you know a couple things about me... I like to eat chocolate and I like to create handmade, handstamped notecards...  I have said before that occasionally, God uses the little messages on Dove promises to make me stop and think...  It's been a few months since I opened this piece of chocolate, but I figured it would fit in well to my #31Days and the Behind the Scenes linkup...

As I often do, I grabbed a piece of chocolate on my way down the stairs to my craft/cardmaking room.  I settled into my chair and gathered some of my supplies. I took a deep breath and exhaled (one must do that to fully enjoy the chocolate). And I opened my Dove Promise... and this is what I read.

"Live your dreams." and I smiled, because in that moment right there, I was living my dreams. Making cards, filling a special order, being creative, using the gifts God has given me.

But it's not always that way. More times than not I get discouraged because I'm not exactly sure what my dream is... or more importantly what God's Dreams for me are. There is a struggle between all of the desires He has placed inside of me. Sometimes they don't all work neatly together and complete themselves in harmony.

When I pursue my dream of creating cards, my dream of being a better wife and mom sometimes fails miserably. When I work hard at being a better wife and mom, my dream of being a writer and blogger gets pushed way down on the priority list. And when I succeed in building community and strengthening friendships in real life, my etsy shop and card website sit untouched, un-updated, stagnant... The list goes on and on. Most days, I really, really, REALLY struggle to live my dreams.

And then just this month while I'm in the middle of attempting to write and attempting to dream and improving my card shop and eating lots of chocolate and heading to Allume... I received the same message repeatedly, like 3 times in a row. I can't say whether I ate these three DAYS in a row, or MAYBE all in the same day, but I kept getting the message... "Live your dreams."

So while I haven't quite figured it out, which dream to pursue first or how they all fit together, I know that I will keep working on it. I will spend moments on writing, and moments on housework and kids homework and other family activities, and moments on card making, and moments with friends and community and most important, moments with God as we work together to figure it out... step by step!

Community Conversation:  What are your dreams? How are you living them?

Yes, I am working to share one promise every day. To see all my #31Days of Dove Promises head to this page and bookmark it, pin it, or just subscribe to my blog and we can enjoy a little bit of chocolate together every day this month.

and if you have lots of time to spare, check out all the #31Days topics at The Nester!

It quiet around these parts

photo credit: Kim Hall on flckr

This blog here has been pretty quiet lately... have you missed me?

Truth is, I have so much noise in my head that I can't get it out. I can't sort through what needs to be written, what needs to be filed, what needs to be tossed and forgotten!  I lay down in bed (an hour later than I want to) and I finally feel quiet and my brain starts writing 10 blog posts at once, and frets about my online class (more on that later); it worries about kids starting public school, and chastens me for not making it through my mental to-do list that I forgot half of because it wasn't written down.

I want to tell you all about the reasons why I haven't written lately and all the reasons why the blog will probably still be quiet for a few weeks, but the truth is... it's all excuses. I waste so much time in my day and I have no schedule and no routine and no goals.

I have dreams... lots of them, but I have no accountability, no self-discipline, no short term and long term goals for accomplishing those dreams.  I recently bought The How They Blog planner, and printed out a bunch of pages and started my notebook... but that's as far as I got... no writing, no dreaming, no planning, no implementation.

I HAVE been working on my card-selling God-sized Dream. I designed a website even. Then I asked some close friends and family for feedback and let it sit on the shelf unedited for 2+ weeks. I've also been planning and setting up shop on Etsy and hope to open my shop next week... but if I actually make sales?!??!  Then I need a plan for better shipping and materials and making time to create more cards! I'm excited about that and hope you will support me when I get it up and going!

And then there is this class I'm taking... Contemporary Christian Writing, which is kinda awesome, but kinda scary because I haven't done much writing lately and I kinda feel like I forgot how to write and these are some HUGE assignments, like a Devotional, and a Theological Essay, and an Essay of Apologetics, and Current Issues in Christian Living Essay... all to be completed in less than 8 weeks time and I'm kinda freaking out a bit (apparently I like the word "kinda").

Plus I'm a mom and a wife and the laundry still needs to be done and people still need to eat. And I have my friends here in my town that I'm trying to spend some time with to work on relationships here in real life!

And I don't know where the road is taking me... or even if I'm on the right path. But I'm trying to keep moving forward by faith and figuring out what works and what doesn't and to trust and to rest and to remember that LIFE IS A GIFT, not an emergency!!

And in two weeks when my kids head back to school, I will write and dream and hope and plan and create and blog...  (after I serve jury duty, that is...)

Five Minute Friday: Belong

It's finally Friday... my days this week have been a little messed up. I keep forgetting what day it is. But I'm pretty sure it's Friday because I'm seeing lots of #fmfparty in my twitter feed!!

 So here we are to write for 5 minutes without worrying if it's right or not!

Belong:

There is something about a community that just draws you in and makes you feel welcome. Gathered in, wrapped in hugs, embraced with encouraging words. Even when you are new, you feel at home.

I found that in Allume, in Five Minute Friday, in blogging, in the God's Sized Dream team, it's community and I belong.

Friends I've never met, but feel so loved by.... Friends I got a chance to meet last October and miss like crazy.  There is a welcoming and accepting no matter the background, no matter the country. We are one in Christ... unity.

I blog for community and connection and I find that on twitter and in the comment section of my blog and those of my friends. I always feel at home and I hope that I can help others feel at home, too.

It's great to belong to the body of Christ and the #FMFParty community...

PS. CAN'T WAIT for ALLUME!!!!

and... stop!

and a bonus minute to share a picture because I found out that the lovely Ann Voskamp was hosting Five Minute Friday this week!

Ann makes you feel like you belong! I had the opportunity to meet her at Allume last fall and she welcomed me with open arms... and she called me by my name (how is that for belonging?) ... she also laughed with me, as I fluffed my hair for a picture... what can I say? I wanted to look my best! :)  and I can't wait to see her again this October at Allume!

Community Conversation: What can you say in 5 minutes? Where do you feel most at home? ... and are you coming to Allume? You belong there! :)

Realizing my God-sized Dream may be Smaller than I Thought (and that's okay)

Dreaming, I'm supposed to write and post about dreaming on Tuesdays... but I like to do everything late... even three of my pregnancy delivery dates were off by 10 days, 7 days, and 5 days... those girls needed more primping time.

I'm a procrastinator, I say that I do better at the last moment, but the truth is, I'm sure that I would turn out better work if I started earlier. I just need to give myself earlier deadlines.

Problem is, I have so much brewing around in my head, I can't get it out in 10, 15, or even 30 minute increments here and there. I feel like if I don't have a 3 hour block to sit down and write and dream and blog and plan, that I shouldn't even bother starting. I'm working to change this! ---Ya know, the Do What You Can Plan!

So today I have less than an hour and we are going to see what I can plink out on these keys...


When I started this God-Sized Dreaming, I thought I would be the Lisa Leonard or Gussy Sews of handmade notecards. That I would be so successful, I would need a whole team to make my card designs for me. But honestly, that scares me just a little too much... and I kinda like making my own cards, it's therapeutic for me.

I also thought that maybe I could be a Lisa-Jo Baker and write inspiring posts that would be turned into inspiring videos, or Ann Voskamp and write inspiring blog posts that could be turned into best selling books.  So I went back to school for a Communications/Writing degree... but I don't treat writing like a professional. I don't write every day... I barely even write every week.

And then I thought, well maybe I can be a Kristen Welch and start a life-changing ministry in Africa... except that I'm kind of a homebody and chances are I will never leave this country... unless Canada counts.

And then I remembered (and still need to be reminded every day), God didn't call me to be any of those people... He's got them for that! He called me to be ME. Now if only I could figure out who ME is.

This past week I read this post from World Magazine. I'm not saying that I believe everything it says, but I am saying that THIS is what I needed to hear.

"Today’s millennial generation is being fed the message that if they don’t do something extraordinary in this life they are wasting their gifts and potential."

"No shame, no pressure to be awesome, no expectations of fame but simply following the call to be men and women of virtue and inviting their friends and neighbors to do the same in every area of life."

1 Thessalonians 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

Maybe my "missional" and my "radical" is ... being a better wife and mom, writing as God gives me words to say, and crafting and creating cards, writing notes of encouragement to others.

I am so thankful for the freedom to be who God made ME to be!

I am also super thankful for all the ladies listed above (who have all had an impact on my life, whether they know it or not) and for Holley Gerth, who has been telling me for months through her book, You're Made for a God-Sized Dream that no dream is too big and no dream is too small.


This week was supposed to be about paying it forward, I'm not sure I've done that well. It's hard to do when you are still figuring out your own dream. But I have encouraged one friend to keep dreaming about her desire to be a teacher, and another friend who is feeling lost like me, and I continue to spend time investing in the lives of my kids as the next generation of dreamers...

Community Conversation: Where are you in your dreaming? Do you know what God is calling you to do? How are you encouraging others to follow the dreams God has given them?

Five Minute Friday: Brave

It's Friday... for one more hour and I'm gonna get Five Minute Friday in before I go to bed and start my Analog Weekend!

Five Minute Friday, where we write for 5 minutes of freedom without worrying about what comes out, without editing and backtracking, without it having to be just perfect.

Wanna join in? Be Brave... We would love to have you!!

Start:

Brave.... I was just going to skip this week, because Brave?!?! I'm not feeling it. And I'm tired of being negative so I wasn't going to write, but then I saw this video in my facebook feed! And while I am not a fan of rock music, this?!?!? Gave ME chills!!



Proud to be an American and so thankful for those who are brave and fight for my freedoms, even if I'm using my freedom to be a scaredy cat.

And someday, I'll stop being a chicken and try my hand at being brave and actually take another step toward my God Sized Dream because...

Joshua 1:9 ... Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.

He is with me... in my parenting, in my marriage, in my writing, in my creating, in my friendships and in my community...

I just need to be BRAVE, because God ... the God of angel armies is always by my side.


Stop:

Community Conversation: What comes to your mind with the word 'Brave'? Do you consider yourself to be brave? Is there a verse you focus on when you need to be brave?

I'd be blessed to have you read some of my past Five Minute Friday posts and leave some comment love...

Waste Not, Want Not

I was skimming thru my twitter feed while making dinner one evening and came across this post on Relevant Magazine about only showing the pretty parts of our lives on Instagram and Facebook. And I agree wholeheartedly--I try to be real occasionally, but I don't want to be one of those people that complains about the bad more than they give thanks for the good. And I can say that I probably won't intentionally post a picture of me with bedhead or no mascara...

Not more than 10 minutes later my 6YO daughter was helping serve the dinner plates and dumped my plate of spaghetti and meatballs on the kitchen floor...

I WISH I HAD INSTAGRAMMED IT... showing the not so pretty parts and all! :)

I gave myself bonus points for hugging her and checking her arm for sauce burns before freaking out. and I gave myself bonus points for not yelling at all ... or crying (I tend to cry over spilled anything) but then I did something I'm not proud of...

I picked those noodles off the floor and rinsed them... YES, I DID. And then I ate them because I hate to waste anything. I'm pretty stingy.

Then I thought about all the time I waste... on facebook, playing Angry Birds or other games, reading blogs with no time limit, staying up too late, watching too much TV... and I think, WHY?

Why do I hate wasting money on food, or eating out, or paper, or craft supplies, but I waste time regularly?

I know this is why my card-making hobby is just that--a hobby! It takes time and discipline to create a business plan that works.

and I know that's why my blog can be quiet for days, even weeks, at a time because I'm flinging birds instead of words.

and I know that's why as much as I want to be a morning person, it won't happen until I'm intentional about going to bed earlier.

Waste... it's why my dreams are still just dreams, because I've been complacent instead of obedient. (See this awesome post on Holley Gerth's blog for more on that)

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I don't have the answer, but I have Scripture and truth is always a good place to start.

The first one that comes to mind is Ephesians 5:16... Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. What am I doing to best redeem the time God has given me?

Then I found this one in Proverbs 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster... WOW! I do not want to be known for that!!

So I did a quick bible search on waste and redeeming and it's a gold mine! Here's a few I want to remember!!

Walk in wisdom to them that are without, redeeming the time.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

So in real life, I'm stingy with food and money and wasteful with time... How about you?

Community Conversation: Have you ever eaten something you probably should have tossed? What do you waste: time, money, food, fill-in-the-blank? Do you have any Scripture to add to the list?

Five Minute Friday: Jump

It's that time again... time for 5 minutes of freedom to write without worrying about what comes out, without editing and backtracking, without it having to be just perfect.

Wanna join in? Be sure to check out Five Minute Friday at Lisa-Jo's place!!


Today's Prompt: Jump

A few of my dreaming friends are attending a retreat this weekend called Jumping Tandem. I'm a little jealous of them as the lovely Lisa-Jo and the inspiring Holley Gerth are two of the speakers.  It's all about pursuing your dreams and figuring it all out... and man, could I use some help with that. But God, in His wisdom never swung open wide a door... Not that I gave Him any opportunity to, but that's not what this is about.

Dreams... Jumping Tandem... working together... walking through open door... crying over closed doors... jumping into the unknown... trying something new... stepping out of your comfort zone... DREAMING... even when others don't understand, don't believe in your God-given dreams.

I read this verse in my twitter feed this week.

Psalm 18:29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

And I thought "Leaped" which led to "Jumped" and I realized that sometimes you have to JUMP OVER THE WALL to get to your dream. (click to tweet that)

Right now, I feel that my biggest wall is lack of focus and lack of discipline... but "BY MY GOD," I am going to leap over that wall!  It may be next week, It may be next month... It may not be until October.

Somebody please hold me accountable... and maybe hold my hand together as we leap over a wall... with God.

STOP

Community Comments: What is one of your dreams? What is one wall that is in your way? Will you leap over it?

feel free to check out some of my past Five Minute Friday posts...

Dear Chihuahua of Fear

This week in our God-Sized Dreaming with Holley Gerth, we were encouraged to write a letter to the Chihuahua of Fear... Here's mine.

I was going to add a picture of a chihuahua in my post to go along with it, but while searching for an image, I just got the heebie jeebies and had to stop... I hate dogs that much...
(so instead, my brave girl climbing the huge pine tree in our front yard...)





Dear Chihuahua of Fear,
I have some things I'd like to say to you ...

First of all, I've never been a fan of dogs, especially little nippy ones that make a whole lot of noise and cause a pretty big mess, and really are not good for much. Because really, that is all you are--just a tiny little thing in the corner of my brain that yaps louder than the music on the radio, barks more often than my confidence, and howls to drown out the fire whistles of truth.

The problem is, O Chihuahua of Fear, as much as I don't like you... I know you--I'm used to you and that makes it a little too comfortable to live with you, to listen to you, to let you stick around. I have this fear of the unknown, this fear of change--and that is all your fault, too!

Well no longer, Chihuahua of Fear, the time has come for you to go. I'm kicking you out of this little brain of mine. And when you go, could you take your puppy friends with you--distraction, procrastination, and perfectionism...




Sincerely,
God-Sized Dreaming Julie





PS... Chihuahua of Fear, you have me so flustered, I forgot to share with you some TRUTH that speaks louder than you bark!!

2 Kings 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 
(I know this is Spiritual in nature, but I also see this as like my God-sized Dream Team--they encourage and lend a helping hand to each other as we pursue our dreams together!!)

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
(God is with me... The LORD MY GOD is with me... wherever I go)

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
(this is a big one for me... so often I feel no power, no love and definitely not a sound mind, but I know this is NOT how God wants me to live so I'm focusing on TRUTH)

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
(The Right Hand of HIS Righteousness... is there anything stronger?!?!?)

It is no coincidence that we are on the chapter on FEAR in the Hello Mornings Bible Study this week. Check out Abounding Hope.


If you are looking for a good read, look no further than You're Made for a God-sized Dream!!

Broken

Two weeks ago, the Five Minute Friday prompt was Remember. And I was really going to write. I was all ready to spend five minutes writing about how I remember when I used to blog 4-5 times a week; when writing something, anything was a priority. 

I remember calling myself a writer and dreaming about writing meaningful blog posts that reached the hearts of my friends in real life and the friends I've made online  I dreamed about taking Scripture and applying it to my daily life and sharing how God was working. 

I wanted to remember the WHY of my God-sized Dreams so that I could figure out the HOW of pursuing these dreams.

But it NEVER HAPPENED.


Then this past Friday, the Five Minute Friday prompt was Broken ... And a whole flood of emotions poured into my heart and mind. Because I feel a little broken. Maybe even a lot broken. 

Like a few brain synapses broken--some connection between my brain and my hand is broken. Somewhere between the desire to do and the discipline to do ... BROKEN. I said I was determined to write and blog again, but I just couldn't manage to follow through. Even this writing, will it ever get typed, will it ever get posted? (it did).

Ideas come to mind, but I think I need to make an 800-word blog post out of it and have every thought come to a neat conclusion before I share it with you.

So today, I'm just sharing that I'm feeling a little broken and I could use a little glue to put me back together again...


And tomorrow is FRIDAY again, and I plan to be here again for Five Minute Friday... but on Friday this time!

A Note to You, Dreamer Friend

As part of our dreaming this week, we are supposed to "write a post entitled “A Letter to the God-sized Dreamers” telling your sisters why what they’re doing and who they’re becoming through this process is worth it–even on the hard days."  I just want to skip this week and tell you all to just go read Holley Gerth's post today... or better yet, just go get her book, You're Made for a God-Sized Dream.  She says it so much better than I can.  But sometimes you just need to give or receive a pep talk, so this letter might be more to me than it is to you. But hopefully you can find encouragement in it!


Dear God-sized Dreamer,

What's that? You have a dream? You have a desire, a longing for something more? It's not your imagination. It was placed there by God. And He is the one that is going to help you each step of the way, because He knows what's best for you. He wants what is best for you. He is calling you to something more... more of Him.

Don't ignore it, don't silence it, don't let it fade away. Feed the desire through the truth in God's Word. Find encouragement from other God-sized Dreamers--they are out there, you know. Pray, pray, pray every day.

Step outside your comfort zone... DO IT!! You will be amazed at how God will be right there, holding your hand! Don't let fear live your life!

Maybe you are confused as to what exactly the longing is for... writing? crafting? being a better wife and mom? taking a missions trip? changing the world? being more like Christ?  Just keep pursuing, following God's Light along the path. He will show you. He will direct you. You just have to follow... and keep dreaming!

Holley is right when she says it's "more of Jesus, more of what he’s created you to be, more of what he’s called you to do."   Who doesn't want that?!??!!

Memorizing Scripture can help keep you on track when the voice of doubts and discouragement starts creeping in... Combat it with the Voice of Truth!!

Psalms 37:4 - Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Proverbs 16:9 - A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

These are just a few good ones!
Do you have one you can share with me in the comments?
Your Dreaming verse?

and maybe, just maybe, it would help to have some visual reminders. Check out the Dream items on sale this month with this code 25% off Holley Gerth Collection with code HOLLEYG25!

There are some fantastic items.  I already have this marvelous bag


How about it? are you dreaming God-Sized Dreams? Don't give up. 
Dare to make that difference. Take that step!! Follow that dream!


*this post contains affiliate links.

Less of Me, More of Jesus

So the assignment was...

your “do what you can” step for your God-sized dream is to figure out what you needed less of in your life so that you can embrace more of what God has for you {including your dream}. 

What do I need less of? STRESS? How do I let that go?? haha!  

So I've been thinking about it this week in conjunction with Lent, what can I let go of? what do I need to let go of? what do I need less of for a season? What do I need less of for the rest of all time?

Definitely less of me... less selfishness... less pride... less expectation--on myself and on others... less of ME.

More of Jesus, just give me Jesus!!

He must increase, but I must decrease!

It's been fresh on my mind. I have so many desires and interests that I can't really figure out what my dream is supposed to be.  I keep coming back to Holley Gerth's definition of a God-sized Dream...

My God-sized Dream is... a desire in my heart for more of what God has for me.


And while I don't know if it's a handmade card business, or a writing degree, or an income-producing blog, or being a stay-at-home mom, or if it actually is ALL of these things, I do know that I need more of Jesus.

I joined Hello Mornings this month, and while sometimes it's more of a "hello MID-morning" I've been faithful to spend some time in God's Word each day.  There has been some Soul Detox with She Reads Truth and some Abounding Hope with Hello Mornings. And I've been writing a lot of scripture. It's been good for me, and that's part of the reason why the blog has been quieter and the cardmaking has been nonexistent. But I'm okay with that for now.



In conjunction with Lent, I am also reading through Holey, Wholly, Holy: A Lenten Journey by one of my blog friends, Kris Camealy. I was worried about adding another daily thing to my routine, but I discovered today that it's not a daily reading... it's a journey that I can go through in my pace and I'm looking forward to it.





So, have you been dreaming? What steps are you taking in pursuing your dreams? Is there something I can pray for you about in relation to your God-sized dreams?

Where does fear fit in dreaming?

What’s one fear you’ve faced when it comes to your God-sized dream?  And what’s the truth that’s bigger than that fear? 

Fear! I've been thinking a lot about fear lately... Holley Gerth asked us to answer the previous questions this week as part of pursuing our God-Sized Dreams. It's been stewing in my head, and in my heart, but I have been unable to get it down on paper (or on screen).

Then Lisa-Jo gave us the prompt for Five Minute Friday and it was ... AFRAID! and I thought about it all weekend. To be honest, I'm afraid that I will never blog again and that I won't be able to get the words out right.

At the beginning of the year, I shared my dreams with you... dreams to be a better wife and mom. dreams to connect with others through writing and card making. Dreams to CREATE... Part of fulfilling those dreams (the writing ones, anyway) involve going back to school.
And I was SOOO AFRAID of that.
So afraid of being out of place with a bunch of 18-22 year olds.
So afraid of forgetting how to do homework and write academic papers and take tests and participate in class interactions and group projects and having to read and read and write and write.

But I did it anyway! Through the strong encouragement of my awesome husband (he rocks, by the way) and my dad, and some friends, and my high school English teacher who is now my college advisor (Go, God!), I went back to college. Just a class or two, but I'm doing it... and right now I'm still afraid, because I can't keep up... or at least I feel like I can't keep up.

And in pursuing this dream, my dreams of being a better wife and mom and being a crafter are dying by strangulation... I haven't made cards in almost a month... and my laundry sits unfolded for five+ days and my bathroom tub needs an intervention... and the bed sheets (well, let's not go there).

So fear creeps in and I begin to doubt and I wonder... am I doing the right thing here??!?! I fear failure, and I fear the unknown... What is my God-sized Dream, really?

My God-sized Dream is... a desire in my heart for more of what God has for me.

Do you know what God has for me? Do you know what God has for you? Thankfully, one thing I have been getting right is more time in God's Word and the Scripture He has given me this week speaks right to this matter...

TRUTH

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind. (v. 12) or I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (v. 13) Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? (v. 4)  One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. (v. 11) Teach me thy way, O Lord and lead me in the plain path... (v. 14) Wait on the Lord be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.

I write these verses for me as much as for you... I need to remind myself of them every single day. The truth that combats the fear!  What truth can you share with me, that's bigger than fear?


And I know this post is already too long and I'm hoping you've stuck with me, because I have one more thing I want to share regarding dreaming. This part of the post has been in my drafts for weeks. And it has to do with dreaming, so I'm giving it to you today!!


I went to see Les Miserables a few weeks ago, an afternoon out with some girl friends. I saw it on Broadway back in '96, I think. While I sat in the theater and the movie started playing, I was amazed at how the music just came back to me. I was totally singing along in my head. I don't know how I remembered it from so long ago.  Maybe I have heard it in other places and just didn't realize it.

Then a friend of mine started posting You Tube videos on "how the songs were supposed to be song" and I love her for it, because for the rest of the evening (far too late into the evening)I spent listening to every Les Miserables song I could find...

and in the midst of it all, I found this one...



Seriously, is there any other dream so amazing?  I don't know much of Susan Boyle, and while I remember the whole leap to fame and all, I'm not sure I listened to it then.  and I know nothing of her spiritual, religous background, but I feel this could have been described as a "God-sized Dream."


Now go out there and dream... dream big! Dream God-sized Dreams! You know He wants great things for you!